Memory issue with new gigabyte board

[MarcLeFou]

Important Edit : Problem has morphed. Please read my first post on Sunday to know more. Any help welcome.

Hi

I'm having issues with a new board I purchased.

It's a Gigabyte MA770-UD3 paired with a Phenom X4 955.

However, the system won't boot when there's memory in the 2nd DDR slot (in dual channel mode).

Gigabyte tech support tells me its incompatible memory (OCZ2G8002GK - PC2 6400 Gold Series -5-5-5 @ 1.9v).

Does that make sense and should I RMA the board ? It's the first such issue I've ever had with incompatible memory on ANY board I've ever had so I'm somewhat doutful.

The memory has been tested in another system and isn't faulty.

Any input would be welcome.

Thanks.

Obsolete edit : fumbling in the bios settings, I set the memory controllers to ganged mode and it fixed the issue. Any info on what the ganged vs unganged mode in the phenom II CPU actually do ?

 

[Big T]

Ganged mode is daul channel mode. Thats what they explained to me when I had a simular problem. But when using Gigabyte boards I always check there web site for the memory compatability. I have had problems using the qimonda cips.

 

[tcsenter]

Ganged mode is daul channel mode. Thats what they explained to me when I had a simular problem.

"They" were wrong.

 

[MarcLeFou]

This system is proving to be nothing but a headache.

On Friday, setting the system to ganged mode solved the problem.

However when I tried to open it today, it wouldn't boot again. So I removed all sticks in dual channel mode which has allowed me to boot in the past but the system was now showing as unganged during POST. So I look in the BIOS but its still set as ganged!

So I reset CMOS settings and set the mode back as ganged and put RAM back in. Still not working.

So I go to my office to borrow RAM pairs in other systems that ARE on the compatiblity list for the revision of my board (other OCZ sticks and other Kingston sticks). I try both pairs I found. On their own obviously. STILL not working.

Getting fed up with this crap now!

Is there anything else I can do to troubleshoot ?

My CPU is on their compatability list (Phenom II X4 955). The only thing I have no desire to verify is the stepping as I have no desire to remove the heatsink.

It's definately not a memory specific problem. Does this sound like a faulty board or like faulty memory controllers in the CPU ?

Things used to be so much simpler back in the days!

edit : I confirmed with the part number off the box that the CPU is the C3 stepping so its fully supported.

 

[MarcLeFou]

No suggestions ?

 

[heyheybooboo]

The AMD CPU has two 64-bit memory controllers. When they are 'ganged' you get a 128-bit memory controller.

The only real benefit in ganged mode is when you run heavy on a specific single-threaded application.

With the performance of today's systems compatibility is critical. If a set of sticks is not on a vendor qualified list for specific components (either on the mobo makers QVL list or verified through a vendor's 'memory configurator') it just ain't worth the trouble.

Additionally, when verified, in my thinking that gives you the right to bitch for support if you have any problems

So.

First thing: Get qualified RAMs. Then, pull the battery to reset the CMOS. Insert one stick and boot into the BIOS. Set voltage and all timings to spec. Save, exit, shut down and insert other stick(s).

If this is your OCZ memory it has been EOL'ed. It also lists 1.8v as 'spec' then notes 1.9v EVP** without explaining what "**" means. I'll guess that "**" means at 1.9v you can run the RAMs above spec speed. Sounds like VooDoo to me - LOL

That's all I got. Maybe you could try 1.8v as a last resort .... good luck.




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